A Guide to Word Count
Today I'm going to walk you through something that can get super confusing. I admit, I had to read and re-read some breakdowns of this before completely understanding it all.
Yes, your novel's length matters. Not to your story, but to the publishers evaluating your story. They can get very particular about what does and doesn't count as a novel, and you may have to make changes to your writing in order to get accepted.
So if you're self-publishing, or writing the first draft, you shouldn't worry about word count as much. It'll only hold you back.
For now, simply keep these guidelines in mind. I hope they help you straighten things out!
To start off with, let me tell you what counts as a novel. Technically, in order to be a novel something has to have a word count of 40,000 words or more, which is about 80 pages. That would be considered the bare minimum, and way too short (unless you're writing a novel for teens). You'd be lucky if a publisher accepted your novel at 50,000 words, never mind 40! I know it's unbelievable, but most novels you find in bookstores will be 60,000 to 90,000 words.
Keep in mind that this is your first novel. You're a beginner, and it's okay if your book doesn't turn out to be an epic.
If you'd prefer to, you could aim for it to be a novelette or novella instead. They're much more manegable.
A novelette, by the way, is 7,500 to 17,000 words. Even ten words less and you're writing a short story. And a novella is anywhere from 17,000 to 40,000 words.
But if you're determined to make your first novel a novel, here's how you can increase the word count.
One: Dive into Details. Go back over your draft and look for places where a little more imagery can do the story good. Maybe dedicate an extra paragraph to the culture of the story's setting, or to an emotion the protagonist may be feeling.
Two: Complicate the Climax. It never hurts to make improvements to the plot. You may already have a twist near the end of the story, but a carefully-planned double twist packs a lot of punch. Overloading the protagonist during the climax will make your novel's resolution all the more epic, anyways.
Three: Slip in a Subplot. If you feel like you need more depth, why not write in a subplot? Starting from page one, add in a little romance or drama or comedy by weaving it in with the main plot.
Again, let me emphasize that it's probably best for you to focus on writing the story with your first draft. The second draft will give you room for plenty of editing, and that's when you can change up on word count.
Happy writing, everybody!
Thank you for reading and have a fantastic rest of the week!
